Playing with Fire

✨ Chapter Six | ​Blurred

- Chuck -

I had no damn clue why I kissed Carlos back. I swore I wasn't going down that road again. Especially not with him. What the hell was I thinking, letting myself lose control like that?

But it wasn't just a kiss. Nah, I was all in... Couldn't stop myself once I started, and I turned the kiss from something sweet and comforting into... I don't even know.

He just... leaned into me, like he'd been waiting for it, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. And the way he melted into my arms, submitting to my mouth like it belonged to me... Like he'd wanted it as desperately as I had. It made me feel something I wasn't ready for.

I already couldn't stop thinking about him, and that kiss just made my constant thoughts of him even worse.

I wanted more. More of that heat, more of the way he made me forget every reason I had to stay the hell away.

It wasn't like I planned it, kissing him back... I never thought he'd actually do that. Not in public. Not while we were working. Not while we were cleaning up napkins at the refreshment table.

Now every time I looked at Carlos, it was like the kiss was branded on his forehead.

I couldn't get it out of my head... The way he tasted, the way he smelled. His damn shampoo or whatever the hell he used to smell the way he always smelled was driving me up the wall.

I kept catching myself stealing glances, watching the way he moved, the way his stupid hair fell in his eyes when he was deep into whatever task we were tackling... I hated that I'd gotten to the point where I even noticed that kind of shit.

None of this was supposed to happen. Not again.

I'd made my peace with the whole "fuck up and move on" routine a long time ago. Phoenix Cycles going up in flames was one thing, but this? Screwing around with Carlos when we were finally getting on the same page?

We were supposed to be working. And that's it. Get the job done, keep things professional, don't let shit get messy.

But every time I tried to convince myself that's all it was, my mind circled back to that kiss.

My wandering mind was interrupted by a booming voice above me as I sat in Colton's office chair in the office of Phoenix Cycles.

"Yo, Chuck, I brought all the emergency repair tools for the ride. Is this gonna be a booth? Where does all this shit go, 'cause my car is fucking filled to the brim, dude."

I looked up to see Tommy standing there with his car keys in hand, twirling them around like he had nothing better to do all day.

He always seemed to show up when things were half-done... Like he was waiting for a moment to swoop in. Tommy had a lot of redeeming qualities, but between his recent lazy attitude, clumsiness, and dumbass flirtations with Carlos, I'd lately been fighting the urge to deck him across the jaw.

"It all goes in the community room, the back of the building."

"Oh man, my fucking back is killing me." He stretched exaggeratedly, as if to remind me of just how much work he'd already put in. A little too much emphasis on how hard he was supposedly working.

"Pull around back, I'll help you unload it through the warehouse entrance."

As Tommy turned to leave, Lorena appeared out of nowhere, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. "Yo Chuck, what's up with you lately." Her voice was smooth but carried that biting edge, the one she always wielded with a knowing smirk.